If you live in Mississippi, you may have noticed that you are no longer able to log into your Bluesky or Dreamwidth accounts from within the state. That’s because, in a chilling early warning sign for the U.S., both social platforms decided to block all users in Mississippi from their services rather than risk hefty fines under the state’s oppressive age verification mandate.

This consolidation of power is a dream come true for the Big Tech platforms, but it’s a nightmare for users. While the megacorporations get more traffic and a whole lot more user data (read: profit), users are left with far fewer community options and a bland, corporate surveillance machine instead of a vibrant public sphere. The internet we all fell in love with is a diverse and colorful place, full of innovation, connection, and unique opportunities for self-expression. That internet—our internet—is worth defending.

  • HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    0·
    14 days ago

    We need to reframe the discussion from “it’s for the children” to “it’s for lazy parents”.

    People are keen to scapegoat parents, and here it’s the truth. They don’t want to use existing opt-in controls, or put the damn computer where they can keep an eye on Little Timmy while he uses it. Make the entirery of the legal system do it for you!

    • null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      0·
      13 days ago

      Ok, so I also hate the “protect the children” argument, and there are certainly plenty of lazy parents around.

      However, if everyone 10 year old at school has a phone and a Facebook account, it’s just so much more difficult for parents who are not lazy to hold the line. Its an extraordinarily difficult situation. You’d make your kid’s a pariah by upholding a basic standard of care.

      By prohibiting access for kids you set the basic societal standard. Yes it will be circumvented but you enable parents to uphold appropriate restrictions.

      Is it worth it? Probably not. Its not a good thing but as a dad I can see the intention.

      • HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
        0·
        13 days ago

        I’m surprised there isn’t more of a crowdsourced solution-- community maintained block/allow lists and pluggable tools.

        Part of the reason filters suck right now is that they’re sold to turboprudes and people pushing compliance solutions that will placate litigious turboprudes. So you get blocking all of Wikipedia and .edu/.gov because three pages have an anatomical diagram of a breast. The kids are frustrated, normal parents have to keep unblocking legit stuff, and nobody wins.

        If you could pick from easily managed lists sponsored by groups you personally trusted, with responsive appeals systems, people might be more willing to use them.

        The ad-blocker ecosystem has a lot of precedent for how to work this stuff.

      • That Weird Vegan@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        0·
        13 days ago

        “protect the children” is such a fucking bullshit excuse. If they gave a fuck about children, they’d stop them being slaughtered in schools every fucking day.